Developed over 5,000 years ago in India, yoga is a discipline used to unite body, mind and spirit. Most yoga styles involve physical postures, meditative states and deep breathing to varying degrees. There are a number of different approaches to yoga, with some forms being more strenuous, while others are slower-paced and more meditative. However, there is a great deal of crossover between schools and differences in approaches within each school. Hatha yoga, a more physical form, is a popular type in the United States.
Vigorous Yoga
Vinyasa is a term which means breath-synchronized movement and applies to a more vigorous style of yoga which combines a series of flowing postures with rhythmical breathing. Ashtanga yoga is an example of this type. Ashtanga means eight limbs in Sanskrit and is based on six series of asanas which increase in difficulty. Be ready to sweat. Power yoga is American teacher Bender Birch's Western adaptation to Ashtanga yoga. Both are fast-paced rigorous workouts aimed at developing strength and flexibility. Kali Ray TriYoga contains a series of flowing, dance-like movements divided into seven distinct levels. This system of yoga is taught in a meditative environment.
Detail Yoga
The best example of this type yoga is Iyengar yoga, named after its founder, B.K.S. Iyengar, a yogi from India, now in his 90s, who is still actively involved in the yoga community. In Iyengar yoga the focus is on the subtleties of each pose, and they are held much longer than in other types of yoga. Another distinctive feature of this yoga is the use of props. Chairs, blocks, blankets and belts help accommodate the student's special needs or injuries. The props provide more support, allowing the practitioner the freedom to go deeply into the pose. Anusara yoga, with its emphasis on aligning a positive philosophy with physically aligning the body, is light-hearted and also detail-oriented. These yoga poses focus on opening the heart and use yoga props.
Healing Yoga
Integrative Yoga Therapy was developed in California by Joseph Le Page in 1993. Le Page also created a teacher training program designed for mainstream and medical wellness practices, including hospitals and rehabilitation centers. The program address all levels of the patient's physical, emotional and spiritual life. Bikram yoga was created by Bikram Choudbury, who first visited the U. S. from India in the early 70s. His trip was sponsored by the American Medical Association so that he could demonstrate how he used yoga to treat chronically ill patients. You will sweat in Bikram yoga, which is done at 100-degree temperatures to mimic yoga's birthplace's climate. The sweating helps cleanse the body of toxins. Phoenix Rising yoga therapy combines yoga with body-mind psychology, allowing a release of both physical tensions and emotional blocks.
Yoga for Enlightenment
Kundalini yoga as well as Tantra yoga both emphasize activating the body's energy centers called chakras. In Kundalini yoga, that energy is seen as a "coiled serpent" at the base of the spine. When the kundalini is activated, it begins a process of awakening and moves up the spine, activating each chakra and ultimately creating changes in consciousness. The practice of this yoga combines postures, dynamic breathing techniques, chanting and meditating on mntras to achieve its goals. Tantric yoga sometimes uses sexual pleasure, sustained through ritualized intercourse, as a means to enlightenment.
References
- "Yoga Journal"; Not All Yoga is Created Equal; Jennifer Cook
- The Yoga Hub: Different Yoga Types - Part 1
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- Alternative Medicine; C. Norman Shealy, MD, Ph.D, Consultant Editor; 1996
- Daily Yoga: Anusara Yoga
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